Help to Save Baydon St. Nicholas Church
Church Updates:- April 2025
Challenges still remain with our historic building which are ongoing and increasing in complexity. During the year we have experienced new problems with roof leaks and damp, as well as having to deal with the structural issues identified over the past several years. To address these problems (identified in the Quinquennial Report) we are intending to stage a project that includes the following:
Chancel
Cracking and movement was first observed in 2014, worsening in 2018 following a dry summer, which prompted the removal of three large trees that were making matters worse. Over recent years the cracking and movement has somewhat stabilised and this has allowed the team to re-assess what work is needed.
Plans have now been drawn up for a buttress to support the North and East walls. This is a slight variation from the original plan for which planning permission was granted by Wiltshire County Council in 2023. The new proposal would be a less intrusive solution - a new buttress to be built on the northeast corner, matching the existing buttress on the southeast corner.
Repairs will be needed to the existing bowed and cracked flint walls, but the extent of these repairs cant be determined until the new buttress has been built and the remaining scaffolding removed.
Once the structural work has been completed and everything has settled down, it will be possible to tidy up inside and repair the internal cracking.
The remaining roof covering needs to be replaced due to age as well as movement in the building damaging the present roofing material this will be similar to the successful
re-roofing of the aisle and north vestry that was completed a few years ago.
Vestry
Our Vestry has become an urgent issue due to damp and leaks.
Plans are in place to reroof, replace guttering and repair damaged exterior stonework.
South Aisle
The roof of the South Aisle has been subject to water leaks and ingress recently due to driving winds.
Plans are also proposed to get this roof upgraded.
Provision of Toilet Facilities
We have plans drawn up to convert our outside shed to a new toilet.
This will allow greater use of the building by villagers.
Outside lighting will be reinstated.
A plea for support:
The future of the church building depends on your support.
Back in December 2018, around fifty people from the village crammed into the church, to hear an update on the problems with the building.
Please click here to see the full report from this initial open meeting. We are very blessed that since then, with the removal of mature trees, the cracking has somewhat stabilised and it has been possible for us to continue using the church, while consultations have continued and detailed plans for repair have been drawn up.
It is estimated that in order to carry out all of the work identified above will cost around £250,000. We have had generous donations from Baydon residents and from members of other local churches but we are a long way off having enough to do all the necessary work. We are very grateful for the financial support from so many in the village.
Church Appeal News :-
Any assistance would be gratefully received.
To donate
please go to https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/9087
Peter Chambers rannochpnc@outlook.com has kindly agreed to look after the Building Finance project and has already contacted several funding sources and spread the message of our crisis through various media. We are praying for support from the National Heritage Lottery Fund and enquiries are in progress.
If you would like to make a donation our bank details are:
For building fund: 09-01-54 87637089
For non-building fund: 09-01-54 80637083
If possible please gift aid any donation by requesting a Gift aid form that can be found in the Church.
More information will be posted on this page as it becomes available, but keep an eye on the Whitton Team website
|
